Choir Directors

Terry Hicks is in his twenty-ninth year as Director of Choirs for the Bentonville Public Schools, his twelfth year directing the church choir at First Christian Church, Bentonville, and his ninth year as the director of the SoNA Singers. Terry holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Ithaca College and a Master of Music Education from the University of Arkansas, and has performed with the Robert Shaw Festival Chorus in Carnegie Hall. Under his direction, the choirs at B.H.S. have consistently earned superior ratings at regional, state, and invitational festivals. His choirs have been invited to sing for many prestigious events including: the Arkansas State Music Convention five times, the National High School Choral Festival at Carnegie Hall by the Weill Music Institute, the Southwest ACDA Convention three times, the ACDA National Convention twice, and an invited performance for Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. The B.H.S. choirs have toured England, Scotland, Ireland, Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, New York, Minnesota, and Texas participating in workshops with numerous world renowned choral conductors. In addition to other duties Terry also teaches AP Music Theory. Professional affiliations include ACDA, NAfME, and Phi Mu Alpha. He was awarded the Distinguished Director Award by ArkCDA in 2001, 2005, and 2015. Terry is a past region chairperson for the Northwest Region of ArkCDA, a Past President of Arkansas ACDA, and an active clinician. Terry and his wife Peggy reside in Bella Vista, AR and have two children, Katie and John.

Ken Griggs is in his sixteenth year as a choral director for the Bentonville School District. He will start his thirteenth year at Bentonville High School where he directs four ninth grade choirs as well as 10th-12th grade choir. Ken holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. In his sixteen years of teaching, his choirs have consistently received superior ratings at the region and state level choral performance assessments and his choirs have performed for multiple Arkansas All-State music conferences. Ken was the choral director of the year for the Northwest Region of Arkansas in 2010 and again in 2014. In addition to his duties at BHS, he has served as an Honor Choir Coordinator for the Southwest Division American Choral Directors Association music conferences for the past 10 years. He has also coordinated the 7-9th grade Honor Choir for the 2011 and 2013 American Choral Directors Association National Music Conferences. Ken has served as the R&S Chair for Male chorus for the Arkansas ACDA and the Junior High Section Chair for ArkCDA. He is an active clinician and adjudicator in the state of Arkansas. Ken also serves as staff member at the Arkansas Choral Connection Choir Camp where he has performed various duties ranging from teaching voice to conducting choirs. His professional memberships and affiliations include ACDA, ArkCDA, Arkansas State Teachers Association, Arkansas Educators Association, Association of American Educators, and Phi Mu Alpha.